Kayla Nicole, known for her work as a sports journalist and as the ex-girlfriend of NFL star Travis Kelce, is pushing her mental and physical limits in the highly anticipated third season of Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test. In an exclusive sneak peek of the upcoming season, Nicole is seen grappling with one of the show’s grueling challenges—an underwater escape exercise that tested her endurance and resolve.
Set against the rugged backdrop of Wales, the season places Nicole alongside a diverse group of celebrity recruits, including NFL quarterback Cam Newton, actor Brody Jenner, and actress Kyla Pratt. One particularly intense challenge required the recruits to be locked inside a submerged area of a boat as part of water warfare training.
Once underwater, each contestant had to navigate their escape route while managing their breath and composure.
In a dramatic clip, the recruits donned black hard hats with numbered identifiers for the exercise. Nicole’s hat, marked with the number “8,” became a focal point as she visibly struggled to find air and screamed for help while attempting to escape. At one point, her hard hat was the only part of her visible as she pounded on the top of the cage in desperation, signaling for assistance.
Above the submerged boat, a Directing Staff (DS) agent stood ready with a rope, overseeing the recruits’ attempts to escape while managing the high-pressure situation. The scene highlights the intense and unrelenting nature of the challenges the recruits face on Special Forces, where survival instincts are put to the ultimate test.
Nicole’s Motivation for Joining the Show
Nicole’s decision to participate in Special Forces was deeply personal. Speaking exclusively with Page Six, she explained her desire to showcase her “raw, vulnerable” side, breaking down the often glamorized public image of celebrities.
“I would say I’m the opposite of being afraid of what people are going to see,” Nicole shared during a Fox press event. “I’m actually excited for people to see us stripped down, raw, vulnerable. I think people, in general, need to be reminded that we’re all humans, right? We all have very real emotions. And I’m excited about that element of allowing us to be human.”
Nicole also reflected on how her public breakup with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce—and the online scrutiny she faced in its aftermath—has prepared her for the intense mental challenges of the show.
“God, I think that put things in full perspective, that social media is literally just that. Social media—words on the internet,” she said. “Experiences like this put life into perspective. There are people in the real world doing this on a daily basis to save lives. The little tweets and the headlines mean nothing when you’re put in an environment like this.”
Life After Kelce
Nicole dated Kelce from 2017 until their breakup in May 2022. Since then, Kelce has moved on with global pop superstar Taylor Swift, a development that has kept Nicole in the spotlight due to ongoing fan curiosity about her and her past relationship with the NFL star. Despite the headlines, Nicole has remained focused on her career, fitness goals, and new opportunities like Special Forces.
The new season of Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test promises to deliver intense, emotionally charged moments as Nicole and her fellow recruits face a series of punishing challenges designed to push them to their breaking points.
Season Premiere Details
Season 3 of Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test features an impressive cast, including Denise Richards, Carey Hart, and Stephen Baldwin, alongside Nicole and other recruits. The series premieres on January 8 on Fox, offering viewers a firsthand look at the physical and emotional resilience required to tackle the world’s most grueling tests.
For Nicole, the show is more than a test of strength—it’s an opportunity to redefine herself in the public eye, away from the narrative of her past relationships and toward a new chapter of personal growth and determination.
